Benin Monarch, Omo N’oba N’edo Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Ewuare the second has distanced his self from the claim made by the immediate past Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole that the Oba advised him against picking Governor Godwin Obaseki as a successor, stating that the former governor now Senator representing Edo North only came to him to talk about his then Deputy Governor, Pius Odubu and vilified the former Deputy Governor to pieces.
Benin Monarch stated this in a swift reaction to Adams Oshiomhole’s statement when the Nigeria Senate President, Godswill Akpabio led All Progressives Congress, APC members alongside the Governor-elect, Monday Okpebholo to visit the Oba at his Palace on Sunday.
Adams Oshiomhole while speaking during the visit had said that he acted against the advise of the Benin Monarch not to choose Godwin Obaseki as his successor but he thought, Godwin Obaseki being a Bini man could respect the Palace and the traditions of Edo people.
In a manner that appeared furious, the Benin Monarch confronted Adams Oshiomhole, called one of the Palace chiefs who may be an eyewitness during Adams Oshiomhole’s visit then, and stressed he never talked against Godwin Obaseki or advise Adams Oshiomhole against Godwin Obaseki as his choice to support as successor.
The Benin Monarch said, Adams Oshiomhole only came to shade pieces his then Deputy Governor, Pius Odubu.
A video posted online showed that Adams Oshiomhole quickly tenderd apology for the statement.
We had reported that the last Saturday Edo State Gubernatorial election appeared to be a very big interest for the incumbent Governor of the State, Godwin Obaseki and the former governors of Edo and Rivers States who are currently the incumbent Senator representing Edo North and FCT Minister, Adams Oshiomhole and Nyesom Wike respectively.
Nyesom Wike had said he feel betrayed after he helped Governor Godwin Obaseki to secure power for his current second tenure in office through the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP when the then All Progressives Congress, APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole disqualified him from contesting the governorship seat on the platform of his then political party, APC in 2020.
Adams Oshiomhole had in several occasions also described Governor Obaseki as a betrayal, saying he regretted choosing him as successor in 2016.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had in 2020 called on Edo People to vote Governor Obaseki out of office and he shouldn’t be given second term to rule the people but many people in the state then picked offence on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu statements who was only then APC National Chieftain.
The 2023 Presidential election that got President Bola Ahmed Tinubu into power as Nigeria President has been an issue of concern to many.
Scores of people believed that the 2023 election was filled with irregularities, violence, disenfranchisement of eligible voters, manipulation of election results among other insinuations or allegations but the Nigeria Supreme Court of Justice ruled that the political parties and candidates who contested the 2023 presidential election outcome in court were not able to prove their case of wide spread margins of irregularities, manipulation of election results, violence, disenfranchisement even though the apex court noted that there were isolated cases of the allegations which were not enough to rule otherwise against Bola Ahmed Tinubu who was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission, InEC.
Governor Obaseki had refused to sign the traditional routine Peace Accord Agreement on the ground that those who ought to be the promoters of peace are already causing violence ahead the gubernatorial election by thus intimidating, harassing and arresting members of his political party, PDP, to weaken the chances of PDP winning the areas where the arrested and detained party chieftains hail from, saying, the authorities at the Federal Government are doing so for APC to win the the governorship by all means.
The tension in the state made the Benin Monarch, Omo N’oba N’edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare, the second, to order Bisusu sacrificial ceremony to alert the gods or deities in Benin Kingdom to avert any act of calamity before, during and after the governorship election.